Harvester-thresher



Dec. 23, 1947 c. J. scRAN-roN Erm.

HARVESTER-THRESHER Filed April 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l AAAAAAAAAAA AAA Dec. 23, 1947. c, J, scRANToN ETAL 2,433,162

HARvEsTER-THRESHER Filed April 4, 1945 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. 23, 1947 n 2,433,162 HARVESTER-'rilassata Charles J. Scranton and Robert L. Worrell, La Porte, Ind., assignors to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 4, 1945, Serial No. 586,474

6 Claims. (Cl. 13D-27) tially threshed grain bearing heads, pods and the like (hereinafter called tailings) to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough. In many machines of the class herein specified the grain bearing heads, pods and the like..

(hereinafter called heads), the stalks, vines, etc. (hereinafter called straw), and the grain or other kernels liberated from the heads and hulls are delivered to a separating mechanism including at least one recleaner or final cleaning screen disposed in adjacent, elevated relation with respect to the threshing mechanism. And the tailings, together with all of the liberated kernels, are delivered to the recleaner screen for passage therethrough or thereover as the case may be, the kernels dropping through such screen being delivered or conveyed to a bin, wagon, sack or other suitable receptacle while the tailings and kernels which travel over the screen are directed or conveyed to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough. However, in some machines the separating mechanism includes means for segregating the kernels and tailings and only the latter are delivered to the recleaner screen.

The provision of a recleaner screen or screens having the capacity heretofore most commonly employed, i. e., a screen operative to handle all of the kernels and tailings removed from the straw in the separating mechanism, is not entirely satisfactory in that such a construction materially increases notonly the size, weight and initial cost of the machine but also the cost of operating same. Moreover, none of the prior art combinations of a recleaner screen or screens and threshing mechanism is entirely satisfactory, in that, irrespective of the form and capacity of such a screen or screens, the screen apertures cannot be of a size sufficient to handle large kernels, such as beans and peas, without either passing considerable foreign material comprising dust, dirt, broken heads, stalks, leaves, and the like (hereinafter called chaff) through the screen together with the supposedly clean kernels or providing an additional pneumatic or other form of cleaning means operative to remove the cha-ff. In this connection, the separation of the chaff from small kernels, such as grass seed, at this stage of the operations is a difficult' procedure. particularly when the screen apertures are of large size, and if the screen apertures are of small size suitable for handling grass seed, the large 2 kernels which are liberated from the heads while they are being collected and conveyed to the recleaner screen and a considerable amount of chaff will be delivered to the threshing mechanism to. gether with the tailings for repassage therethrough.

The return of large liberated kernels (particularly beans) to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethroughv results in a considerable loss due to breakage of the kernels whereas the return of the chaff which would normally be discharged through a recleaner screen having large apertures results in an unnecessary loading of the threshing mechanism. And it is therefore an object of this invention to provide machines of the class herein specied with an apparatus for handling tailings which is combined with the threshing and separating mechanisms in an improved manner rendering the machines selectively operative to return all of the tailings including any liberated kernels present therein to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough or to remove the liberated kernels present in the tailings being returned to the threshing mechanism and deliver such kernels to the separating mechanism for repassage therethrough.

Another object of this invention is to provide machines of the class herein specied with apparatus for handling tailings which is combined with the threshing and separating mechanisms in an improved manner rendering parts of the tailings-handling apparatus readily accessible for selectively operating same to return all of the tailings including any liberated kernels present therein to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough or to remove the liberated kernels present in the tailings being returned to the threshing mechanism and deliver suchkernels to the separating mechanism for repassage therethrough.

Another object of this invention is to provide machines of the class herein specied with an apparatus for handling tailings which is combined with the threshing and separating mechlanisms in an improved manner permitting the use of a simplified, durable and inexpensive screen structure or the like for removing liberated kernels present in the tailings being returned to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type herein specified in which the mechanisms and/or apparatus for threshing, for separating the liberated kernels and tailings from the straw, and for returning the tailings to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough are combined in a simplified manner to afford a material reduction in the size, weight and initial cost of the machine and also in the cost`of operating same. More particularly, the conveying mechanism for returning the tailings to the threshing cylinder is so combined with the separator housing that the transverse sections of the conveying mechanism pass through and are rigidly supported by the side walls of the separator housing and the elevating section of the conveying mechanism is operatively supported by end portions of the transverse sections.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type herein specified in which the mechanisms and/or apparatus for threshing, for separating the liberated kernels and tailings from the straw, and for returning the tailings to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough are combined in a simplied manner for returning liberated kernels present in the tailings directly to the straw receiving end portion of the separating mechanism.

The construction, application and operation of apparatus embodying the invention and the significance of the aforementioned and other objects will become readily apparent as the disclosure progresses and particularly points out the features of special importance. An accordingly the invention may be considered as consisting of the various details of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts as is more fully set forth in the appended claims and in the detailed description,` reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a harvester-thresher embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial, right-hand-side elevation of the harvester-thresher shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken on line III- III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, it is seen that the invention may be applied to a harvester-thresher comprising a main frame including a. transverse tubular member I having its opposite ends supported by ground engaging wheels 2 and including a forwardly extending, rigid draft frame 3 adapted to be detachably, supportingly connected with the drawbar of a tractor or other suitable powertype draft means (not shown), a housing 4 supporting and enclosing the threshing mechanism, a header frame 6 operatively carried by the housing 4, an elongated separator housing 1 having a closed end portion communicating with the discharge side of the housing 4 and extending transversely thereof and also transversely of the direction of travel of the harvester-thresher during the normal operation of same, and a storage bin 8 for the clean grain or kernels.

Referring also to Fig. 2, it is seen that the mechanism operatively disposed within the housing 4 may include a feeding conveyor 9, a threshing cylinder IIJ, a coacting concave Il, and a discharge passage or throat I2 opening into the separator housing 1; that the header frame 6 may operatively support a sickle device I3 and an elevating conveyor I4 which coacts with feeding conveyor 9 to deliver the material to be threshed to cylinder I0; and that the separator housing 1 may include and/or support a racklike mechanism I6 for supporting and moving the straw therethrough and out the open discharge end of the housing and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw, a screw conveyor I1 for conducting the clean grain or kernels to an elevating conveyor I8 which in turn may discharge same into the bin 8, and another screw conveyor I9 for conductingl the tailings to an elevating conveyor 2| The various mechanisms thus far described may be readily operated by means of a power transmitting shaft 22 having its forward end supported on the tractor end of draft frame 3 for detachable connection with a tractor power take-off shaft (not shown)and having its rear end operatively connected with a gearing 23 which is in turn directly connected with the shaft portion of conveyor |1 and with a shaft 24, the latter in turn being operatively connected with feed conveyor 9, cylinder I 0, sickle device I3 and elevating conveyor I4 by means including the pulleys 26 and 21 and the belts 28 and 29, respectively. Conveyor I1 is operatively connected with conveyor I9 by means of the pulleys 3| and 32 and belt 33. The mechanism for supporting and moving the straw through the separator housing 1 and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw and the grain elevator I8 may be driven from the shaft portion of conveyor I1 by any suitable means (not shown), such for example, as the means shown in W. R. Drays patent, U. S. 2,262,453. In fact, the detailed construction, arrangement and coaction of all of the various structures and mechanisms thus far briefly described conform with the disclosure of Dray Patent 2,262,453 to which reference may be had for a more detailed description of the structures and mechanisms involved.

In the construction hereinv disclosed, the tailings elevating conveyor extends alongside the rear wall of separator housing 1 to a point above the rear end of a forwardly extending screw conveyor 34 into which it discharges the tailings through a spout 36. Conveyor 34 passes through the upper interior portion of separator housing 1 in spaced elevated relation with respect to the mechanism I6 therein and adjacent a wall portion thereof, in this case the right hand end wall of same as viewed in Fig. l, and over housing 4 to a point above the cylinder I 0 mounted therein. A spout structure 31 places the forward end of conveyor 34 in communication with the interior of housing 4 on the material receiving side of cylinder I0 whereby the tailings discharged from conveyor 34 are subjected to the action of the threshing mechanism and pass out of housing 4 through discharge throat I2 and into sep, arator housing 1, the conveyor 34 passing through the front wall of lhousing 1 above the opening therein conforming with the discharge end of throat I2. Conveyor 34 may be driven by means of a pulley or sprocket wheel 38 thereon which is alined and operatively connected with a corresponding element 39 on the adjacent end of elevating conveyor 2| by means of a belt or chain 4|. In this connection, it should be particularly noted, conveyer I9, which. is located in tailings receiving position in separator housing 1, extends transversely through and is rigidly supported by side Walls 5 and I5 of separator hous ing 1. The discharge end of conveyer I9 operatively supports the receiving end of conveyer 2|. The discharge end of conveyer 2| is operatively supported by the receiving end of conveyer 34 which extends transversely through and is rigidly supported by side walls 5 and I5 in proximity to end wall 2l) of the separator housing 1. vAs, can be seen from the drawings, the location of conveyers I9"an 34 through opposite ends of separator housing 1 add rigidity to the housing structure and also enables conveyers I9 and 34 to support elevating conveyer 2| without external bracing. Separator housing 1 is otherwise reinforced and braced in a conventional manner as indicated Vby the use of angle irons, such as angle irons 25 and 30.

The portion of conveyor 34 which is disposed within separator housing 1 is provided with apertures 42 or otherwise constructed to discharge liberated kernels included with the tailings of large kernel crops passing therethrough directly into the separator housing, and the adjacent Wall portion of the separator housing, in this case right hand end wall 26, is provided with an opening and a door or other suitable form of closure 43 therefor which may be readilyopened whenever desired in order to obtain access to the kernel discharging portion of conveyor 34.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it is seen that the lower circumferential half of the intermediate, separator-housing-enclosed wall portion of conveyor casing 34 is cut away to provide an opening 44, ,that opening 44 is covered by a surrounding, rotatably mounted sleeve section 46 of which only about a circumferential half is provided with apertures 42, and that section 46 may be turned relative to the conveyor casing and retained in any desired position by means of clamping bands 41 which surround the end portions of section 46 and are releasably attached, as by means of bolts 48, to straps or bars 49 carried by and depending from the roof or top wall of separator housing 1. In operation, all that has to be done in order to move section 46 into or out-of a position in which its apertured portion covers the opening 44 in the lower half of the conveyor casing is to open door 43 and loosen bolts 48 whereupon the sleeve section can be turned and retained in the position desired by again tightening the bolts.

In this connection, it is preferable to provide section 46 with apertures of sufficient size to discharge the liberated kernels included with the tailings of the largest kernel crop to be handled by the harvester-thresher and to rotate section 46 into and out-of a ker'nel discharging position rather than to increase the cost of the mechanism and complicate its operation and effectiveness by providing means for varying the size of the apertures 42 or for varying or adjusting other parts which might be employed to control the size of kernel dischargeable directlyinto the separator housing. Moreover, even if the operator should neglect to shift section 46 from the position shown to a position in which its apertured portion is disposed at the top side of the conveyor when changing from a large kernel crop, such as beans, to a small kernel crop, such as clover, no harm would be done as the chaff and unhulled kernels passing through apertures 42 into separator housing 1 would not be mixed with the clean kernels being delivered to bin 8.

The combination and correlation of elements hereinbefore described affords a simplified, durable and inexpensive construction of which the parts requiring adjustment are readily accessible and can be adjusted as desired with a minimum of time and eiort. The invention is generally applicable to all types of harvester-threshers, and although it can be most easily applied to a harvester-thresher in which the separator housing extends transversely to the direction of travel during normal operation and transversely to the direction of straw discharge from the threshing mechanism, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts herein disclosed, for purposes of illustration, as various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a harvester-thresher, a threshing meehanism, an elongated separator housing extending transversely of the direction of the discharge of straw from the threshing mechanism and having an open discharge end and a closed straw receiving end provided with a side wall opening for receiving the kernels, heads and straw`discharged from said threshing mechanism, said separator housing having its side and end walls forming the closed end thereof secured together in rigid braced relation and including mechanism for moving the straw longitudinally therethrough and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw, a transverse conveyer section extending through the straw receiving end of said separator housing in proximity to the adjacent end Wall thereof and in spaced elevated relation lwith respect to the adjacent end of said straw moving mechanism, said transverse section being rigidly supported by opposed side wall portions of said separator housing and terminating in a discharge end portion communicating with said threshing mechanism, conveyer means for returning tailings to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough and comprising said transverse section and an elevating section having its upper end operatively communicating with the receiving end of said transverse section, said transverse section including an intermediate, separator housing enclosed portion having an opening therein and a selectively positionable part constructed and arranged for coaction with said intermediate portion and operativewhen in one position to' provide restricted openings through which liberated kernelsare discharged directly into said housing while the tailings are conveyed through said intermediate portion and discharged into said threshing mechanism and operative when in another position to provide a. closure for the opening in said intermediate portion whereby tailings and liberated kernels are conveyed through said intermediate portion and discharged into said threshing mechanism, said end wall having an opening therein Vexposing the selectively positionable part of said intermediate portion, and a removable closure for said end wall opening.

2. In a harvester-thresher, a threshing mechanism, an elongated separator housing extending transversely of the direction of the discharge of straw from the threshing mechanism and having an open discharge end and a closed straw receiving end provided with a side wall opening for receiving the kernels, heads and straw discharged from said threshing mechanism, said separator housing having its side and end walls forming the closed end thereof secured together in rigid braced relation and including -mechanism for moving the straw longitudinally therethrough and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw, a transverse conveyor section extending through the straw receiving end of said sep arator housing in proximity to the adjacent end wall thereof and in spaced elevated relation with respect to the adjacent end of said straw moving mechanism, said transverse section being rigidly supported by opposed side wall portions of said separator housing and terminating in a discharge end portion communicating with said threshing mechanism, conveyer means for returning tailings to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough and comprising said transverse section and an elevating section having its upper end operatively communicating with the receiving end of said transverse section, said transverse section including an intermediate, separator housing enclosed portion having an opening therein, a sleeve member having apertures in a circumferential portion thereof and being rotatably mounted on said intermediate portion for selectively covering said opening with a, non-apertured portion of said sleeve whereby the tailings and liberated kernels are conveyed through said section and discharged into said threshing mechanism or for covering said opening with an apertured portion of said sleeve whereby liberated kernels pass through said apertures and into said separator housing and the tailings are conveyed through said transverse section and discharged into said threshing mechanism, said end wall having an opening therein exposing said sleeve member, and a removable closure for said end Wall opening.

3. In a harvester-thresher a threshing mechanism, an elongated separator housing extending: transversely of the direction of the discharge of straw from the threshing mechanism and having an open discharge end and a closed straw receiving end provided with a side wall opening for receiving the kernels, heads and straw discharged from said threshing mechanism, said separator housing having its side and end walls forming the closed end thereof secured together in rigid braced relation and including mechanism for moving the straw longitudinally therethrough and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw, a, transverse conveyer section extending through the straw receiving end of said separator housing in proximity to the adjacent end wall thereof and in spaced elevated relation with respect to the adjacent end of said straw moving mechanism, said transverse section being rigidly supported by opposed side wall portions of said separator housing and terminating in a discharge end portion communicating with said threshing mechanism and in an opposite receiving end portion exterior of said housing, conveyer means for returning tailings to the thresher mechanism for repassage therethrough and comprising said transverse section and an elevating section having its upper end operatively communicating with and supported bythe receiving end of said transverse section, said transverse section including an intermediate separator housing enclosed portion having an opening therein and a selectively positionable part constructed and arranged for coaction with said intermediate portion and operative when in one position to provide restricted openings through which liberated kernels are discharged directly into said housing while the tailings are conveyed through said intermediate portion and discharged into said threshing mechanism and operative when in another position to provide a closure for the opening in said intermediate portion whereby tailings and liberated kernels are conveyed through said intermediate portion and discharged into said threshing mechanism, said end wall having an opening therein exposing the selectively positionable part of said intermediate portion, and a removable closure for said end wall opening.

4. In a harvester-thresher a threshing mechanism, an elongated separator housing extending transversely of the direction of the discharge of straw from the threshing mechanism and having an open discharge end and a closed straw receiving end provided with a side wall opening for receiving the kernels, heads and straw discharged from said threshing mechanism, said separator housing having its side and end walls forming the closed end thereof secured together in rigid braced relation and including mechanism for moving the straw longitudinally therethrough and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw, a transverse conveyer section extending through the straw receiving end of said separator housing in proximity to the adjacent end wall thereof and in spaced elevated relation with respect to the adjacent end of said straw moving mechanism, said transverse section being rigidly supported by opposed side wall portions of said separator housing and terminating in a discharge end portion communicating with said threshing mechanism and in an opposite receiving end portion exterior of said housing, conveyer means for returning tailings to the thresher mechanism for repassage therethrough and comprising said transverse section and an elevating section having its upper end operatively communicating with and supported by the receiving end of said transverse section, said transverse section including an intermediate separator housing enclosed portion having an opening therein, a sleeve member having apertures in a circumferential portion thereof and being rotatably mounted on said intermediate portion for selectively covering said opening with a non-apertured portion of said sleeve whereby the tailings and liberated kernels are conveyed through said section and discharged into said threshing mechanism or for covering said opening with an apertured portion of said sleeve whereby liberated kernels pass through said apertures and into said separator housing and the tailings are conveyed through said section and discharged into said threshing mechanism, said end wall having an opening therein exposing said sleeve on said intermediate portion, and a removable closure for said end wall opening.

5. In a harvester-thresher, a threshing mechanism, an elongated separator housing extending transversely of the direction of the discharge of straw from the threshing mechanism and having an end portion communicating with said threshing mechanism to receive kernels, heads and straw discharged therefrom, said separator housing having an open end portion to discharge straw therefrom,said separatorhousing including mechanism for moving the straw longitudinally therethrough and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw and including an end wall closing the straw receiving end of said housing, conveyer means for returning the tailings to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough comprising a rst section extending transversely through said separator housing in adjacent tailings receiving relation with respect to the straw discharge end thereof and being rigidly supported by opposed side walls of said housing, a second section extending transversely through said separator housing adjacent said end wall and in spaced elevated relation with respect to the adposed side walls of said housing, an elevating section operativelyl supported by end portions of said first section and said second section, said second section terminating in an end portion communicating with said threshing mechanism and including an intermediate, separator housing enclosed portion having an opening therein, a sleeve member having apertures in circumferential portions thereof and being rotatably mounted on said intermediate portion for selectively covering said opening with a non-apertured portion of said sleeve whereby the tailings and liberated kernels are conveyed through said second section and discharged into said threshing mechanism or for covering said opening `with an apertured portion of said sleeve whereby liberated kernels pass through said apertures and into said separator housing and the tailings are conveyed through said second section and discharged into said threshing mechanism, said end wall being in rigid braced relation to said separator housing and having an opening therein exposing said sleeve member on said intermediate portion, and a removable closure for said end wall opening.

6. In a harvester-thresher, a threshing mechanism, an elongated separator housing extending transversely of the direction of the discharge of straw from the threshing mechanism and having an open discharge end and a closed straw receiving end provided with a side wall opening for receiving the kernels, heads and straw discharged from said threshing mechanism, said separator housing having its side and end walls forming the closed end thereof secured together in rigid braced relation and including mechanism for moving the straw longitudinally therethrough and for separating the kernels and tailings from the straw,

a transverse conveyer section extending through the straw receiving end of said separator housing in proximity to the adjacent end wall thereof and in spaced elevated relation with respect to the adjacent end of said straw moving mechanism,

said transverse section being rigidly supported by opposed side wall portions of said separator i housing and terminating in a discharge end portion communicating with said threshing mechanism, conveyer means for returning tailings to the threshing mechanism for repassage therethrough and comprising said transverse section and an elevating section having its upper end operatively communicating with the receiving end of said transverse section, said transverse section including an intermediate, separator housing enclosed portion having an opening therein and a selectively positionable part constructed and arranged for coaction with said intermediate portion and operative when in one position to provide restricted openings through which liberated kernels are discharged directly into said housing while the tailings are conveyed through said 1ntermediate portion and discharged into said threshing mechanism and operative when in another position to provide a closure for the opening in said intermediate portion whereby tailings and liberated kernels are conveyed through said intermediate portion and discharged into said threshing mechanism, and means aiording access to said selectively positionable part for actuation thereof.

CHARLES J. SCRANTON. ROBERT L. WORREIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 41,103 Shearer Jan. 5, 1364 261,867 Miller Aug. 1, 1882 2,262,453 Dray Nov, 11, 1941 617,402 Long Jan. 10, 1899 702,440 Kienholz June 1'?, 1902 821,496 Huifhines May 22, 1966 1,204,261 Erfurth Nov. 7, 1916 

